Since starting my design journey, this was the first week where I found myself working on multiple projects with creeping deadlines. With this came stress, anxiety, and excitement! Putting the skills I have learned in these last 5-6 months to use in multiple projects was rewarding in more ways than one, but if I could go back and start this week over, I would have done some things differently.
The biggest lesson I learned from this week was the importance of time management. When you're juggling different projects at once, it's up to you to prioritize your tasks and keep track of the time spent on each step.
Here is some advice for designers struggling with time management or looking for some new tips.
1. Plan your process before you start anything
To help manage your time, you first have to know what you're managing. Get the details of your project and write out your process to complete the product.
2. Set deadlines and mark your calendar
Now that you have your process and tasks written down, allocate the appropriate amount of time necessary for each step and mark those deadlines in your calendar. Every single one. Need to complete a competitive analysis? Jot down when you're going to start and when you need it completed. Realize mid-project you need to conduct a preference test? Add it to the schedule. Documenting everything will keep you organized and more efficient in the long run.
3. Hold yourself accountable by setting milestones
If you're working for a client or on a freelance project, schedule meetings with the decision-makers in advance to present deliverables or discuss where you are in the design process. If you schedule follow-ups ahead of time, this will give your further motivation and reason to stay on track with your schedule.
4. Forgive yourself if you fall behind
We all lose track of time and fall behind on projects from time to time - we're human. Don't beat yourself up if you find yourself falling behind by a day or two. The important thing is to keep a level head and not fall behind schedule even further. Adjust your timeline where appropriate and keep on going.
5. Celebrate a job well done
You planned your process, scheduled your tasks, and completed the dang thing. Treat yourself to something nice and celebrate a job well done!
Time management can be practiced in many different aspects of our day-to-day. We live busy lives, whether it's tackling multiple projects at work, maintaining a social life outside of work, and keeping up with extracurriculars.
If you have any tips on how you best manage your time, let me know! This skill is something I can improve upon and would love to hear any tricks you have learned.
- Kaity
